Angkor Wat is an incredible archaeological discovery which bears testimony to an amazing ancient empire in the 9-12th centuries, the Khmer Kingdom. The temples, cities and other amazing structures from this empire display massive architectural masterpieces and intricate, detailed stone carvings which chronicle the history of the empire on the walls of the main temple and capital city. The number and immensity of the sites requires a good deal of time to explore properly. We recommend a minimum of two days in Angkor Wat and you can easily spend from 3-5 days there. There are other sites to see in Cambodia as well (Siem Reap the city, the Great Lake, the river cruise, and Phnom Penh).
Day 1: Today you will leave for your flight to Thailand. The adventure begins!
Day 2: You are in flight.
Day 3: You will arrive in Bangkok, where your guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. You can rest up from your long journey. Then we will pick you up for dinner and provide you a complimentary 2-hour Thai Massage or 1-hour traditional Oil Massage. D
Day 4: Your guide will pick you up and take you to the Golden Buddha Temple and the Reclining Buddha Temple, which features a giant Buddha statue over 90 feet in length. After lunch you will go to the incredible Grand Palace with Wat Pra Kaeo.
Evening option: Traditional Thai dinner with classical dances and traditional performances (and beautiful costumes). (Possibly meet the dancers before backstage) B, L, D
Day 5: You will leave early in the morning to visit the Floating Market. Here you will ride on the canals through an older Thai river neighborhood and onto the actual Floating Market area. We will take you to lunch at the Rose Garden, where you can enjoy the grounds. Possibly go to the cobra show. Then we will take you on the late afternoon flight to Chiang Mai. There your guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. B, L
Day 6: The day begins with a visit to the Doi Suthep, the ancient temple sight. This is one of the areas where the dress needs to be conservative. After lunch we will take you to the Handicraft "villages" and visit the Chiang Mai and Tribal Research Center with guide. Evening Option: The Night Market B, L, D
Day 7: After breakfast you will visit the Elephant Camp, see the elephant and the cultural show and take a one hour elephant ride, go on a bamboo raft and learn about the noble Asian elephant and the worker monkeys. You will also have the opportunity to visit the Orchid Farm. Evening: Khantoke dinner with hill tribe dances (spectacular show, dance, music and costumes) B, L, D
Day 8: After breakfast you will go on an excursion to visit the hill tribe villages where you will meet the Aca, the Hmong, Yao and the Karen (the people with the multiple rings around their necks). Lunch will be at local restaurants along the way. After you arrive in Chiang Rai you will check into your hotel. Dinner will be at a local restaurant in Chiang Mai. B, L, D
Day 9: Today you will visit the Queen Mother's Home and Garden, Doi Tung. After lunch you will be driven to the Burmese border. Then you will visit the historic Golden Triangle where three countries share a border, Thailand, Laos and Burma (Myanmar). You will see the new state-of-the-art Opium Museum and where two rivers join the three nations. Then you will take a ride on a small river boat to the Burmese side and stop on a small island owned by Laos. You will then take the evening flight from Chiang Rai to Bangkok, where your guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. We can then take you to the airport for your flight to Phuket (via Bangkok). There you will be transferred to your resort hotel. B, L, D
Day 10: Today we will transfer you to the airport for your flight back to Bangok and onto Siem Reap, Cambodia. There your guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel.
Day 11: The tour begins with Angkor Thom, the ancient capital city. After lunch you will be taken to Angkor Wat, the main temple area. Here you will see the majestic ancient stone buildings and the religious and historic stories carved into the walls!
Evening: Dinner and Cambodian cultural show. *B, D
Day 12: Today you will go to Bantay Srei, which is the pink stone temple area. After lunch you will see the Ta Prohm, which is the remarkable site where the trees and the monastery intertwine in many intriguing ways. Then you will return to your hotel. In the late afternoon we will take you to Phnom Bakeng, the hilltop temple, from where you can view the Angkor Wat area at sunset. Option: If you want, you can ride an elelphant up and down the mound of the temple.
Day 13: Today you will leave early in the morning on a 5-hour boat cruise from Ton Le Sap (The Great Lake) onto the Mekong River and arriving in Phnom Penh. There the local guide will meet you and take you to your hotel in Phnom Penh. During the day you will visit the King’s Palace and the National Museum. B, L
Evening option: You can go to the historic Foreign Correspondant’s Club, where the NGOs, reporters and other foreigners would gather to eat, play pool, etc.
Day 14: In the morning we will take you out to the horrific Killing Fields, where the Khmer Rouge committed many of their atrocities. After lunch you will visit the Genocide Museum. The rest of the day is free. B, L
Day 15: Today you will be transferred to the airport for your return flight home with many lifetime memories!
Notes:
Airfare is included in the tour price.
Price includes: All land transportation throughout itinerary including arrival / depart transfers, boats, guides, 4-star hotels (double occupancy)etc. Due to the fluctuation of ticket prices, international air flight costs are not included. We can supply your international air flights at excellent prices.
Also see tour packages in:
Asia
Thailand
Cambodia
Archeology/History
Cultural Journey
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